Rail-fastener.



.L B. ATWGD.

RAIL FASTENER.

APP-LmATIoN FILED No.1?, 1912.

M9339@ v PaentedMarLwm wamsss. A "wenn JOI-IN IB. ATWOOD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

RAIL-FSTENER.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914;.

Application led December 17, 1912. Serial No. 737,355.

To all 107mm 1.1; may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. A'rwoon, a vcitizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county -of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail- Fasteners; and T do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description thereof.

'My invention relates to rail fasteners, and is particularly concerned with a device*y of this character for securing railway rails on metal ties.

One object ofthe invention is to provide simpley means' by which the rail may be quickly7 and securely fastened to the tie.

A further object is to provide means by which the rail may be readily detached, and by which new fasteners may be quickly substituted whenever necessary, while the rail maintains thesame relative position with respect to the tie and with respect tothe opposite rail.

A further object is to provide a fastener whereby the rail will be clamped to the tie against both lateral and longitudinal movement thereon, and a further object is to provide means in which the driving home/ of a-` fastening pir or spike will impart a slight rot-ary movement to the fastening member proper by which the latter will clamp the rail and tie more efl'ectually.

With these objects inview, the invention consists in a construction and arrangement of parts preferredy embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying draw-J ings, in which;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a rail andtie showing the fastening device in conjunction therewith; Fig. 2 is a view taken transversely of the rail showing the tie and fastening device infeluevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the 'line S-SF ig. 1; Fig.` t is aperspective viewT of theclamping plate; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View through the clip membenand Fig. 6 shows a modified form of fastening pin.

In the drawing, 1 :indicatesthe rail,2 an ordinary metallic tiepreferablyhaving the flanges 3, 3. The fastener comprises a clamping plate 4' having 4the lug adapted to engage the tie flange at one side and the second lug 6 arranged to engage the opposite side `of the tie flange in staggered rela.- tion to the lug 5. The plate is also provided with the rail flange engaging lug 7 at the n tie lflange.

end of the plate adjacent the tie flange lug 5. Arranged at the opposite end of the clamping plate on the same side thereof, as the -lug 5, is an extension 8 having an aperture 9 therein to receive a fastening pin as hereinafter described. This extension 8` is arranged at an angle of substantially throughthe side edge of the plate, and is shaped to receive a fastening clip as hereafter described. This clip comprises a body portion 10 having a passage 11 therethrough, whereby the clip may be slipped over the extension 8 of the clamping plate. The upper portion of the clip has a rail engaging lug 12 and the lowerv portion has a tie flange engaging lug 13 extending in a direction substantially at right angles to the rail engaging lug, -The rail engaging lug Ahas a shoulder 14ste engage the side of the rail flange to the flange engaging lug as a shoulder 15 to engage the side of the tie flange. The aperture in the clip ispreferably rectangular to receive'a substantially rectangular fastening pin 16 formed preferably of hardened steel tapered on all sides and having comparatively sharp corners. This pin is also provided with a head 16EL whereby it may be withdrawn from fastening position by means f the usual claw bar.

Tn assembling the parts the clamping plate lugs 5 and 6 are slipped over the edges of the tie flange and the plate is brought into proper position for the mounting of the rail on the tie. The rail is then placed upon the clamping plate and the lug 7 of said clamping plate is slipped over its flange. The clip member 10 is then slipped over the extension 8 of the clamping plate until the lugs 12 and 13 of said clip member engage the rail flange and tie flange respectively. The lower end of the fastening pin 16 is provided at one of its corners 17 with a cut away portion by which the end of the pin may be slipped readily into the aperture of the clip members and pastl the edgesof the `The fastening pin is then given a sharp blow which causes the sharp corner of its shank to cut its way through the edge of the tie flange, thus forming a notch or recess in the side of said flange whereby the pin maintains a fixed position relatively to the tie. V

The aperture in the clip member and in the extension 8 ofthe clamping plate are so arranged relatively to 'the rail clamping: lugl of the plate and the rail and tie clamping clamp the saine firmly in position.

shoulders ofl the clip that when the wedge pin is driven home the plate lug and clip lugs 1Q are drawn together upon the rail to At the same time the engagement of the fastening pin with the tie flange has.a tendency to twist or rotate the clamping plate on the tie and consequently causes the tie engaging lugs 5 and G of said plate to firmly engage the opposite sides of the tie flange. It will be noticed also that the rail engaging lug 7 of the plate and the rail engaging lug 12 of the clip are arranged in staggered relation. This has a tendency to twist the rail when the pin is driven home which movement is counteracted by the fastening of the rail on the adjacent tie or ties and therefore results in a firmer clamping of the rail to the tie and clamping plates. effectuall'y prevents creeping of the rail with respect to the clamping plate and tie. The thickness of the pin near its head is slightly in excess of the area of the aperture in the clip member, so that when the pin is driven home its head does not come into close contact with the clip. This serves two purposes, first it enables the wedge shape of the pin to exert its full wedging action in proportion to the power of the blow with which the pin is driven home and furthermore leaves the head of the pin spaced away from the clip so that a claw bar will be readily inserted under the head to facilitate withdrawing the head when desired.

In order to secure the fastening pin firmly in fastening position the lower or outer end of the pin when driven home may be given a lateral blow with the hammer by which it is bent out of alinement thus preventing accidental withdrawal of t-he pin. This bending of the lower end is facilitated also by the cutting away of the pin at 17 as described.

If desired, instead of arranging the apertures in the clip and plate extension 8 at an angle to the edge of the tie flange these apertures may be arranged parallel thereto and so that their inner edges lie somewhat within the edge of the tie flange and the pin may be provided on one of its flat sides with sharp cutting ridges adapted to cut into and notch the edge of the tie flange. In all cases, however, it is preferable that the apertures be oblong in shape and that the fastening pin be thicker at one end than the other in cross sect-ion, so that the pin will invariably be driven home with its cutting corners or ribs 'in proper position to engage the tie flange. It is to be understood that when the pin is provided with cutting ridges these ridges are cut away or tapered at the lower end so as to facilitate the initial insertion of the pin in the apertures. The aperture in the clip and plate extension may be arranged to permit the pin to engage both the tie and This action alsol the rail flange when driven home., The rail 1. In a rail fastener the combination with a tie, of a fastening clip adapted to be inserted in the angle between the tie and rall, said clip having a rail flange engaging lug .and a. tie engaging lug said lugs having apertures therein, an abutment upon the opposite side of said rail and means engaging said apertures to hold the lugs of the clip firmly in engagement with the rail and the tie respectively and to force the rail `againstsaid abutment. l Q. In a rail fastener the combination with a tie of a fastening clip having a rail engaging lug at its upper side, and atie engaging lug at its lower side at right angles to each other and adapted'to be placed in the angle between the tie and rail said lugsA having apertures therein, an abut-ment at the opposite side of the rail and a pin adapted to engage the apertures of said clip to hold the same firmly against said rail and tie and to force the rail against said abut-- ment. c

3. In a rail fastener the combination with a tie, of a fastening clip adapted to be placed at an angle of substantially 450- with respect to the rail and tie and within the angle between the rail and tie, said clip having a rail engaging lug and a tie engaging lug extending at right angles to each other, an abutment at the opposite side of the rail, apertures in said'clip lugs adapted to receive a fastening pin whereby the clip may be clamped upon said rail and tie respectively, and the rail clamped between said clip and said abutment.

4C. In a rail fastener, the'combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having lugs adapted to engage the opposite sides of said tie in staggered relation and having a rail clamping lug, of a clip member having a rail engaging lug and a tie engaging lug and an aperture toreceive a fasteningvpin, and a fastening pin adapted to pass through said aperture to y engage the tie whereby the lug and a tie engaging lug adapted to be placed in the angle between the tie and rail.

` clamped between the clamping plate lug and the clip lug.

6. In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having means to engage the tie and rail respectively, a clip member having means to engage the tie and rail respectively, and fastening means cooperating with said clip member to impart a slight twisting movement to said plate with respect to the tie and rail and to clamp the parts firmly together.

7 In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having tie engaging and rail engaging means, a clip member having tie engaging means and rail engaging'means and adapted tobe placed in the angle between the tie and rail at an angle to' both tie andrail and on the opposite side ofv the rail from the rail engaging means .of the "clamping plate and fastening 4means lto [said plate and said clip member respeci an apertured clip member having va tie er1-- tively.

' 8. In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having-opposite clamping lugs to engage the tie in staggered gaging lug and a rail engaging lug and adapted to'slip over said platexextension to bring tsaperture substantially in. register with the aperture of said extension; and a fastening pin adapted to pass through said,l

' clip member and extension and having a sharp' ridge adapted to engage andv notch the edge of thetie'to impartto said plate a slight rotary movement whereby the tie engaging means of said plate may vfirmly engage the tie and the rail may be firmly'- clafnped betweensaid plate lug and the lug of said eli'p member.

9.' In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having tie engaging and rail engaging means, a clip member having tie engaging means and rail engaging means and adapted to be placed'inthe angle between the tie and rail at an angle to both tie and rail and on vthe opposite side of the rail from the rail engagingmeans of the clamping plate and fastening means to' said plate and said clip member respec-I tively, and means for retaining said fastening pin in' fastening position.

1,0. In a rail fast 'n'er, the combination with a tie, of a clamping plate having op osite clamping lugs'to engage the tie fiange 1n staggered relationA and having a lug to engage one side 'of the rail flange, said plate having an -extensionat an angle of 45o of its side edges provided with an aperture an apertured clip lmember havingl a tie engag- `ing lug and a rail engaging lug and adapted to slip over said plate extension to -bring its aperture in register with the aperture of an extension, and a fastening'pin adapted to pass through said clip member and ex tension and having a sharpridge adapted .I

lto engage and notch the edge ofthe tie ange, to impart to said L-pl'ate a slight rotarymovement whereby the `rtie engaging means of said plate may firmly engage the tie and the rail may be firinly clamped between said plate lug and the lug of said clip member, and means for retaining saidy pir in fastening position.,

In testimony whereof, I the said JOHN B Ajrwoon have'hereunto set my hand.

L.roma B..v A Tvvoop.

' lVitiiesses s ROBERT C, ffo'rrnn,

Jenn F. WILL. 

